Somatic intelligence in the structure of the pianist’s emotional expressivity in ensemble performance

Abstract

Relevance of the study. Ukrainian professional music education lacks body-aware practices aimed at harmonizing the physical, mental, and creative dimensions of a musician's activity. Addressing this gap requires a critical reassessment of the traditional pedagogical model and the integration of contemporary interdisciplinary methods that consider the body as an equal component of musical thinking and performance culture. Another layer of the problem is the dominant focus in traditional training on developing solo performance skills emphasizing individual work on technique, sound production, and stage endurance. Ensemble performance is often treated as an "add-on" to solo skills, with the assumption that a musician proficient in their instrument will automatically adapt to the ensemble context. In reality, chamber music imposes qualitatively different demands. This is where the concept of somatic intelligence becomes relevant as the ability to consciously control the body, perceive it both as a tool of expression and as a channel for interaction with other musicians.

The main objective of the study is to justify the role of somatic intelligence as a body-aware competence of the pianist in ensemble performance that enhances self-regulation within emotional interaction with partners. The methodological basis of the article relies on a set of general and specialized methods and approaches, including a comparative approach, modeling and a systems approach.

Results and conclusions. A comparative analysis of the most widespread somatic techniques (Alexander, Feldenkrais, Timani, Piano-Yoga, Piano-Somatic) has been conducted to assess their relevance for ensemble interaction. The definition of somatic intelligence in ensemble pianists has been clarified as the capacity to bodily perceive and synchronize one’s psychophysiological responses with the emotional state of a partner, thus facilitating a shared interpretation of the musical work. Particular attention is paid to touch as a source of sensorimotor pleasure that acts as both a motivational factor and a basis for expressive articulation. The ability to anticipate partners’ actions and adjust dynamics and tempo relies heavily on bodily regulation. Somatic intelligence is the internal foundation that integrates the physical, emotional, and cognitive dimensions of chamber performance.